Tie and rail-clamp.



PATENTED JULY 2, 1907.

J. B. HINUHMAN. TIE AND RAIL GL AMP. APPLICATION FILED 341V. 23, 1907 INVENTORY .4 amw JAMES B. HINCHMAN, OF DENVER, COLORADO.

TIE AND RAIL-CLAMP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 2, 1907.

Application filed January 23,1907- Serial No. 353,582.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES B. HINCHMAN, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Denver, county of Denver, and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ties and Rail-Clamps, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in railway tie, tie-plate and clamp, and the invention relates more specifically to a concrete crosstie and clamping-means whereby a rail is securely tastened to such tie.

The primary object of the invention, broadly stated, is to provide means for quickly, easily, and securely fastening a railroad rail to a concrete or other similar composition cross-tie in such a manner that it will be held firmly in position on the tie, but may be readily and quickly removed when occasion demands.

More specifically stated, the objects of the invention are to provide a concrete or similar composition tie with reinforcing rods or bars, a metallic tie-plate for the rail to rest upon, and embedded hollow posts or uprights which at their upper ends register with openings in the tie-plate and which receive railsecuring elements which securely fastens the rail to the tie-plate, the device as a whole being strong, durable and effective, and capable of withstanding the weather elements to a much greater extent than the usual wooden cross-tie.

The invention will be hereinafter described in detail, and then specifically pointed out in the claims, and in such description, reference will be had to the accompanying drawings illustrating a practical embodiment of the invention, without however intending to limit myself to the various details of construction shown and described, as various changes may be made from such details without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Like numerals of reference will be employed to indicate like parts throughout the different views of the drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view through a part of a cross-tie, showing two of the hollow uprights or posts in vertical section with the securing elements in position therein for fastening the rail on the tie-plate, the said rail being shown in transverse section. Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken through two of the hollow posts or uprights, and showing a part of a rail in side elevation. Fig. 3 is an underneath plan view of the tie-plate detached from the tie. Fig. 4 is a detached detail perspective view of the tie-plate and the four hollow uprights or posts, showing a part of a rail secured in position on the tie-plate. Fig. 5 is a detached detail side elevation of one of rail-securing elements or members, and Fig. 6 is a similar view of the other rail securing element or member.

In the accompanying drawings, 1 designates the cross-tie, which is of a composition nature, as cement. The specific outlines of the tie in connection with the remainder of the construction is immaterial, though I advantageously employ a cross-tie of the form shown in cross section in Fig. 2, namely, a tie provided with a base wider than the top or upper face, and the sides inclining outwardly from the top to the base, as the wide base provides a greater bearing-surface for the tie. This tie, in practice, is suitably reinforced by bars or rods extending through the tie from end to end, and, in practice, I generally place two of such rods or bars 2, a short distance above the base of the tie, and parallel with each other, and a third rod or bar 3, longitudinally through the tie a short distance from its upper face. It will of course be evident that the tie may be reinforced by additional rods or bars placed at other points in the tie, but the specific rods or bars mentioned are located at the points stated to act in conjunction with other elements of the structure, as will presently appear.

The tie 1, is provided on its upper face with two depressions or recesses, one for each rail, (only one however being shown). These depressions 4, are of a depth equal to the thickness of the tie-plate 5, which they receive, and the upper face of said tie-plate is therefore flush with the upper face of the tie 1.

The tie-plate 5 is formed with two longitudinal grooves 6 on its underneath face, and with openings 7, through the plate, intersecting the grooves 6. The tie-plate is also preferably grooved on its underneath face as at 8, parallel with the grooves 6, 6, and between the latter, this groove 8, receiving a central ridge or rib 9 on the tie, which ridge or rib is located within the recess or depression 4. The provision of the groove 8, forms ribs 10, 10, on the underneath face of the tieplate 5, which. ribs or flanges 10, fit against the sides of the concrete rib or ridge 9 of the tie.

It will be observed by reference to Fig. 2 of the drawings, that the reinforcing rod or bar 3 is passed through the tie l, where it lies in close proximity to, or partly within the rib or ridge 9 whereby to give added strength to the tie at this particular point and assist the same in withstanding any lateral strains brought against the rib or ridge by the tie-plate. It

will be evident that the grooves 6, 6, and 8, may not be extended the entire length of the plate unless desired, but may be terminated short of the ends of said plate, since, as this plate is generally made of.malleable iron, the depressions or grooves in the underneath face of the plate may be formed as found most expedient, though it is preferred to form them as shown, for a purpose as will presently appear.

The rail 11, has its base received on the tie-plate 5, and this rail is secured in position thereon and held securely by means of rail-securing members coacting with hollow posts or uprights embedded in the crosstie as will now be described.

To accomplish this end I provide in the cross-tie for each rail resting thereon, four receiving members in the form of hollow uprights or posts 12. These uprights or posts may be made of sheet metal, or may be cast as found most expedient and desirable. I have generally made the same substantially L-shaped, accomplished by providing at the lower ends thereof, a right-angular extension or foot 14, thus forming an exterior shoulder 15 which engages with the concrete or other composition of the tie, and an interior shoulder 16 to be engaged by one of the securing members for the rail, as will presently appear. These hollow uprights or posts are arranged in pairs confronting each other, one pair being provided for each side of the rail-base. The uprights or posts of each pair are connected together and braced adjacent their lower ends by the tie-rods 17, so placed as to act as rests or supports for the reinforcing rods or bars 2, 2, as will be clearly seen by reference to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, and they are also positioned so as to be engaged by, and act as a guide for one of the rail-securing elements or members. The said hollow uprights or posts at their upper ends are received in the grooves or channels 6, 6, of the tie-plate 5, and register with the openings 7, formed through said tie-plate. The upper ends of the uprights or hollow posts are preferably flanged laterally, as shown at 18, in Fig. 2, the edges of the lateral-flanges engaging in grooves 6 in the walls of the grooves or channels 6, and thus centering the hollow posts or uprights with the openings 7. Since it is preferred to flange the upper ends of these posts, it is preferable to extend the grooves 6 to the ends of the plate-5 as heretofore stated.

The securing-members for the rails, embody a spike 19, and a rail securing or engaging clamp 20, for each hollow post or upright. The securingclamp 20, which may be readily formed from a bar of steel or iron substantially square or rectangular in cross section, has its upper end 21 turned inwardly, substantially at right angles to the shank of the clamp whereby to engage and clamp the rail base, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 4 of the drawing. Its lower end is provided with a right-angular extension or bend projecting in the same direction as the bend at the upper end of the clamp, and forming a lug 22, the shoulder or upper face 23 of which engages with the interior shoulder 16 of the hollow post or upright 12. It is to be observed that the interior diameter of the hollow posts or uprights, is such as to readily receive the clamp 20, and permit of the same being positioned to clamp the rail in the manner shown in Fig. l of the drawings. It is held in this position by means of the spike 19, the heel 24 of which engages the clamp 20, directly above the tie-plate, and the lower end of which spike 19, has a long bevel 25, on its outer face, which engages the rod 17 that connects two of the hollow posts or uprights together, and is guided by said rod so as to force the shank of the spike, near its lower end, into engagement with the clamp directly back of the angular lower end of the latter, and thus hold lug 23 engaged with the shoulder of the upright or hollow post. The spikes 19 may be readily withdrawn, and after they are removed, the clamp 20 can be readily disengaged so as to permit its removal from the upright or hollow post. Usually, when the spike is withdrawn, the clamp drops back sufiiciently far to permit the removal of the rail without requiring the removal of the clamp from the hollow post or upright, unless it be desired to do so. I may, if found necessary or desirable, insert a filling of wood or other material 26 in the uprights or posts to assist in guiding the spikes or keys 19 into proper position. The spike head 24 is beveled upwardly from the tieplate 5 so it may be easily engaged by a claw bar.

The clamp members 20, it will be observed, broadly stated, extend into openings in the cross-tie and have their lower ends engaged with interior shoulders in the tie, while their upper ends are engaged with the rail base, and the keys or spikes wedge them in this position.

The construction shown and described forms a practically indestructible tie, in so far as the same being effected by the weather-elements is concerned, provides an effective means for securing a rail to a composition tie, in such a manner as to securely hold the same, yet affording the ready removal of the rail when desired.

While I have described the various features of construction in detail, it will be evident to those skilled in the art, that various minor changes may be made in such details of construction without departing from the general spirit of the invention as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a tie and rail clamp, a composition tie, a tie plate seated therein, a hollow upright or post embedded in the tie having lateral flanges at its upper end received in a groove in the tie plate, and rail securing members extending through the tie plate and into said post for fastening a rail on the tie.

2. In a railway tie and rail clamp, a tie, a plate seated therein, a hollow post or upright embedded in said tie and having lateral flanges at its upper end received in a groove provided therefor in the underneath face of the tie plate, and rail securing members in said post or upright for en gaging and securing a rail on the tie.

3. Ina railway cross tie and railclamp, a composition tie, a tie plate seated therein, a plurality of hollow posts or uprights embedded in the tie, and each having lateral flanges on the upper end received in grooves provided therefor in the underneath face of the tie plate, and securing members in each of said posts or uprights for engaging and securing a rail on the tie.

at. In a railway cross tie and rail clamp, a composition tie, a tie plate seated therein and having grooves in its underneath face, a plurality of hollow uprights or posts embedded in said tie and arranged in pairs, and having lateral flanges on their upper ends received in the grooves of said tie plate, rail securing members in said hollow posts or uprights for engaging and securing a rail to the tie.

5. A composition railway tie, a plurality of hollow posts or uprights embedded in said tie and having lateral flanges on their upper ends, a tie plate on the upper face of the tie having openings registering with the upper ends of said posts or uprights, and having longitudinal grooves in its underneath face to receive the lateral flanges of said hollow uprights or posts, a rail securing clamp engaging a rail on the tie plate and also engaging the hollow uprights or posts, and a spike for securing said clamp in position.

6. A railway cross tie and rail clamp embodying a composition tie, a tie plate seated in the tie and having longitudinal grooves in its underneath face, a plurality of hol low uprights or posts embedded in the tie, and each provided near its lower end with a shoulder, laterally extending flanges carried by the upper end of each upright or post engaging in the grooves of the tie plate, a rail clamp in each upright or post, said rail clamp having its ends bent at an angle to the shank of the clamp to engage the end of the respective upright or post, and means for securing said clamp in position.

7. In combination with a composition tie, and hollow posts embedded therein, having flanges on their upper ends. a tie plate countersunk in the tie with its upper face flush with the upper face of the tie and its underneath face grooved longitudinally to receive the flanges of the hollow posts, a rail seated on the tie plate and tie, rail clamps having angular ends to engage respectively with a shoulder on the post and with the rail, and spikes extending in the posts for securing the clamps in position.

8. In a railway cross-tie and rail clamp, a composition tie having longitudinally-extending re-enforcing bars or rods, hollow posts or uprights embedded in the tie and arranged in pairs, a tie-rod connecting the posts of each pair together and acting as a rest or support for the re-enforcing rods or bars in the tie, a rail clamp engaging the rail and spikes extending into the hollow posts and engaging the clamps adjacent their upper and lower ends to secure the same in position.

9. In a rail tie and clamp, a composition tie, a plurality of hollow posts embedded in the tie and arranged in pairs, a rail plate countersunk in the upper face of the tie and having openings registering with the upper ends of said posts, shoulders formed on said posts adjacent their lower ends, rail clamps extending into said posts and having angular ends for engagement respectively with a rail on the tie plate and with the shoulders of said posts, and spikes extending into the posts and engaging said clamps adjacent their upper and lower ends for securing them in position.

10. In combination with a composition tie and hollow posts embedded. therein, having flanges on their upper ends. a tie-plate countersunk in the tie with its upper face flush with the upper face of the tie and its underneath face grooved longitudinally to receive the flanged hollow posts, a rail seated on the tie-plate and tie, rail clamps having angular ends to engage respectively with a shoulder on the post and with the rail, spikes extending into said posts for securing the clamps in position, and plugs in the posts, engaged by said spikes, and serving to guide the latter as they are driven into the posts.

11. In a railway crosstie and rail clamp, a re-enforced concrete tie, hollow uprights embedded therein and having angular shoulders near their lower ends, a rail plate, seated in the upper face of the tie and having grooves to receive the upper ends of said hollow posts or uprights, and rail securing means engaging a rail on the tie plate and extending into the hollow posts or uprights and engaging the shoulders of said hollow posts or uprights.

12. A railway crosstie and rail clamp comprising a tie, a plurality of hollow posts or uprights embedded in the tie and having angular extensions forming shoulders adjacent their lower ends, a tieplate seated in the upper face of the tie and having openings registering with the hollow uprights or posts, rail clamps extending into the uprights or posts and having angular ends to engage respectively with a rail on the tie-plate and with the.

shoulders of the posts or uprights, a tie-rod connecting the posts or uprights within the tie, and a spike extending into each upright or post and engaging with the rail clamps near the upper and lower ends of the latter..

13. In a railway cross-tie and rail clamp, a re-enforced concrete tie, hollow uprights or posts embedded therein and having angular extensions at their lower ends forming shoulders. a tie-plate seated in the upper face of the tie and having grooves receiving the upper ends of said posts or uprights, rail clamps extending into the posts or uprights and having angular ends to engage respectively with a rail on the tieplate and with the shoulders of the posts or uprights, and means engaging said rail clamps adjacent their upper and lower ends for securing them in position.

14. In a railway cross-tie and rail clamp, a concrete tie, hollow uprights or posts embedded in said tie and arranged in pairs, each post having an angular extension at its lower end forming a shoulder, and tie rods connecting the posts of each pair together, a rail clamp having angular ends to engage respectively with a rail on the tie and with the shoulder of the posts or uprights, and spikes extending into the uprights or posts and having beveled faces for engagement with'the tie rods of the uprights or posts, as and for the purpose described.

15. A railway cross-tie and clamp, comprising a tie, hollow uprights or posts extending into the tie, and having shoulders adjacent their lower ends, a tie-plate seated in the upper face of the tie and having g-ooves in its underneath face to receive the upper ends of the posts or uprights, and rail securing clamps extending into the hollow posts or uprights having their upper ends engaging a rail on the tie-plate, and their lower ends engaged with the shoulders of said posts or uprights.

16. A re-enforced concrete cross-tic, a tie-plate seated in the upper face of said tie, and having a central groove receiving a rib on the upper face of the tie, thesaid tieplate provided with openings, hollow uprights or posts embedded in the tie, and arranged in pairs, said uprights or posts registering with the openings in the tie-plate, tieaod's connecting the posts or uprights of each pair together, and rail clamps projecting into said hollow posts or uprights with their lower ends engaged with shoulders on said posts or uprights and their upper ends engaging a rail on the tie-plate.

17. A concrete tie having longitudinally-extending reenforcing rods or bars adjacent its base, hollow uprights or posts embedded in said tie, and tie-rods connecting said uprights or posts and engaged by the re-enforcing rods or bars, combined with rail securing means extend ing into the posts or uprights and engaged at their upper ends with a rail and at their lower ends with the posts or uprights.

18. In combination witha concrete tie, a hollow post or upright embedded therein and having an angular extension forming a shoulder adjacent its lower end, a tieplate seated in the upper face of the tie and having an opening registering with said hollow post or upright, anda rail clamp engaging at its 'upper end with a rail on the tie-plate, and at its lower end with the shoulder of said post or upright.

19. In combination with a concrete tie, of hollow uprights 01' posts embedded in the tie and each having an angular extension forming a shoulder adjacent the lower end thereof, a tie-plate seated in the upper face of the tie and having grooves in its underneath face receiving the upper ends of said posts or uprights and having openings registering with said posts or uprights, and separable rail securing members extending into the hollow posts or uprights, one of said members engaging at its respective ends with a rail on the tie plate and with the shoulders on the posts or upri hts.

20. In a railroad cross-tie and rail clamp, a concrete tie, a hollow post or upright embedded in the tie having an angular extension at its lower end forming a shoulder and having a flanged upper end, a tie-plate seated in the upper face of the tie and having a groove to receive the flanged upper end of said post or upright, said tie plate having an opening registering with the post or upright, and rail securing means extending into the post or up right with its lower end engaging the shoulder thereof and its upper end engaging a rail on the tie-plate.

21. In a rail tie and clamp. a tie, hollow posts or up rights embedded therein and arranged in pairs, each post 01' upright having a shoulder near its lower end and having a flanged upper end, a tieplate grooved to receive the flanged upper ends of said posts or uprights and having openings registering with said posts or uprights, and a tie-clamp extending into each post or upright having its upper end engaged with a rail on the tie-plate and its lower end engaged with the shoulders of the posts or uprights. I v

22. In a cross tie and rail clamp, a concrete tie, a metallic upright or post embedded therein having a. shoulder near its lower end and flanges on its upper end, a tie plate seated in the upper face of the tie and having an opening registering with the metallic upright or a plurality I &

post, said tie plate having a groove in its underneath face receiving the flanges of the post and securing the latter thereto, a rail clamp having angularly extending ends to engage respectively with a rail 0n the tie plate and with the shoulder of said post or upright, and a spike extending into said post or upright and engaging said clamp adjacent its upper and lower ends and free from engagement with said clamp throughout the remainder of its length.

23, In a rail clamp, the combination with a tie and a tie-plate thereon, of a substantially L-shaped post embedded within the tie having its upper end received in the tie-plate, said tie-plate having an opening registering with said post, and means extending into said post or upright comprising a clamp having angular ends for engagement respectively with a rail on the tie-plate and with said post, as and for the purpose described.

24. A railway rail clamp comprising in combination with a tie and a tie-plate thereon, a hollow post or upright extending into the tie and having a shoulder adja cent its lower end, and having a flanged upper end received in the tie-plate, a rail clamp engaged at its upper end with a rail on the tieplate, and at its lower end with the shoulder of said post or upright, and a spike extending into the post or upright and securing the rail clamp in position.

25. In a rail clamp the combination with a cross-tie, and a tie-plate thereon having openings therethrough and grooves in its underneath face, of a plurality of hollow posts or uprights embedded in the tie and arranged in pairs, a tie rod connecting the posts of each pair, shoulders formed on said posts adjacent their lower ends, rail clamps extending into the posts and engaging at their respective ends with a rail on the tie plate and with the shoulders of said posts, and spikes extending into the posts and having beveled races adjacent their lowenends for engagement with said tierods to force the spikes into engagement with the rail clamp.

20. The combination with a composition tie, of a plurality of hollow posts embedded in said tie, each of said posts having a shoulder adjacent its lower end, rail securing clamps extending into the said posts and having angular ends, the lower of which engages with the shoulder of said posts and the upper end of which engages a rail on the tie, spikes extending into the posts for securing said rail clamps in position, and filler-blocks in the posts engaged by said spikes and serving to guide the lat ter as they are driven into the. posts.

27. The combination with a tie body formed of concrete, of a plurality of hollow posts 01' uprights embedded in the tie body and arranged in pairs, a tie rod connecting the posts of each pair and extending into said posts at its ends, and rail securing means comprising a bar engaged at its upper end with a rail on the tie and at its lower end with a shoulder in the upright or post, and a spike having a beveled face near its lower end which engages with the tie rod and forces said spike into engagement with said bar, and a head on the upper end of said spike outside of the upright of the post impinging against said bar in a line with the base of said rail.

28. In a railway cross tie and rail a clamp, a concrete tie, a tie-plate countersunk in the upper face of the tie and having a plurality of grooves in its underneath face, and having openings extending through the plate, a plurality of hollow uprights or posts embedded in the tie, each having a shoulder near its lower end, and each hav ing a flanged upper end, the flanged upper ends of said uprights or posts being received in the grooves of said he plate, said posts or uprights being arranged in pairs, tie rods connecting the posts of each pair together, means engaging the shoulders of the posts and a rail on the tie plate for securing said rail in position, and means extending into the posts and engaging said tie rods for securing said first named means in position.

29. The combination with a tie body formed of concrete, of a tie plate seated on said tie body and having grooves in its underneath face extending from end to end of the plate, the walls of said grooves being channeled, a plurality of substantially L-shaped hollow uprights or posts embedded in the tie, with their upper ends received in said longitudinal grooves of the tie plate, and having flanges extending into the channeled walls of saidgrooves, and rail securing members extending into said hollow uprights or posts for securing a rail on the tie plate.

30. The combination with a tie formed of concrete, of a tie plate seated on said tie and provided in its underneath face with longitudinal grooves having channeled walls, a plurality of hollow uprights or posts embedded in said tie and provided near their lower ends with shoulders, said hollow uprights or posts being arranged in pairs, tie rods connecting the posts of each pair together and extending into said posts at their ends, flanges carried on the upper ends of said posts engaging in the channeled side walls of said grooves in the tie plate, rail securing members extending into said posts having their upper ends engaged with a rail base and their lower ends engaging with the shoulders of said posts, and spikes extending into the posts and having a beveled face engaging said tie rods, substantially as described.

31. The combination with a tie of concrete, of a tieplate countersunk therein with its upper face hush with the upper face of the tie, a plurality of hollow posts or uprights embedded in the tie having shoulders near their lower ends and having their upper ends communicating with openings in the said tie-plate, rail securing means extending into the said posts and engaged at the lower end with the shoulder of said posts and at the upper end with a rail seated on the tie-plate, spikes extending into said posts for holding the rail securing means in engagement with said rail and with the shoulders of the posts, and filler-blocks within the posts engaged by said spikes and serving to guide the latter as they are driven into the posts.

32. The combination with a tie of concrete, of a plurality of hollow posts embedded in said tie, each of said posts having a shoulder adjacent its lower end, rail securing clamps extending into said posts having angular ends, the lower end of which engages with the shoulders of said posts and the upper end of whichengages with the face of a rail on the tie, spikes extending into the posts for securing said rail clamps inposition, and guiding means within said posts for forcing said spikes into engagement with the ,rail clamps.

33. The combination with a tie of concrete, of a tie plate seated in the upper face of said tie and having grooves in its underneath face, the side walls of which grooves are provided with channels, a plurality of hollow uprights or posts embedded in the tie having flanged upper ends received in the channels in the side walls of said grooves, a shoulder formed on each upright or post near its lower end, rail securing clamps extending into the posts or uprights and engaged at their lower end with said shoulders and at their upper ends with a rail on said tic plate, spikes extending into said posts or uprights for securing said clamps in position, and guiding means within said posts or uprights engaged by said spikes, as and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in the presence of two witnesses JAMES B. HINCIIMAN.

Witnesses CALVIN Boxnn, E. W. IIINCHMAN. 

